Football: Sunil Chettri feels the current Indian football team will not be too dependent on him

141
Image Courtesy: India Today

One of the leading active goal scorers in the International circuit, Sunil Chhetri claims that India does not require a good performance from him constantly in order to achieve success. 

Image Courtesy: India Today

Ahead of India’s crucial encounter against neighbours Bangladesh at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, Chhetri admitted that this team is not too reliant on him to be successful. He stated:

“The Indian team doesn’t need Sunil Chhetri to put up a good performance. I am just one of the 23 players in the team. I’m a little bit lucky and a little bit more experienced. That’s about it,”

The striker, who missed India’s valiant goalless draw against reigning Asian Champions Qatar owing to illness jokingly claimed that the team performed well because of his absence. He said:

It was because of my absence that they played so well in the Qatar game. That’s what the players keep reminding me (laughs).”

Chhetri claimed that Igor Stimac, who was roped in as the new head coach in May has no prejudice when it comes to selection. It was clearly evident when the Croatian introduced a host of new faces for the King’s Cup and Intercontinental Cup ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. He added:

“Whoever does well in training will play. Sometimes he defies what I think. He has come with no prejudice in this country. He doesn’t know what you have done in the past. That is the reason we have done so well against Qatar.

Read Also:

India football coach Igor Stimac refuses to take Bangladesh lightly ahead of WC 2022 Qualifier clash

Former England manager reveals bizarre phone conversation where he convinced Roman Abramovic to buy Chelsea instead of Spurs